Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01
SIERRA COUNTY.
i County on the Mountain Tops-Its Re-
sources, Etc.


i County on the Mountain Tops-Its Re-
sources, Etc.
Sierra county has an area of $50 square
miles. This is one of the Oldest mining
counties in the State It is bounded on the
north by Plumas, south BY Nevada, east by
the State line, and west by Yuba. 1t is a
! mountainous section, interSpersed literally
with small and fertile valleys Only small
portion of its area has an altitude of less
than 1000 feet. The western part is watered
by the headwaters of Yuba river, flowing
| towards the Sacramento valley through
deep canyons; the eastern, b. few small
streams, which enter the State of Nevada.
! A number of small mountain lakes occur
on the Ii IN table lands WHERE the Sierras
spread out into flats or depressions Gold
Lake, with a length of four mil and a
wild of two miles, b cling the source of the
middle fork of the Feather river.
The eastern half OF the county embrac-
ing the Sierra proper, has an elevation of
90 feet, and some oil its peaks and buttes
rise to 5000 or 5000 feet, and are covered
with snow for sey al months Of the year,
the chief mode of winter travel being with
snow-shoes. Sierra valley, situated among
these mount ms, is twenty miles long and
ten miles wide, and n aims number of
! small farms. Owing to its elevation but
little grain is raised, but rye and the harder
| forage grasses grow, and
sToCK-BREEDIEG Is PURSUED WITH SUCCESS.
The upper foothills on the west, with
! Their elevations of from 1000 10 1900 feet,
cover the larger part of the western half of
the county, and embrace rugged and
| broken country, and, together with tine
small area of lower foothills is interspersed
with small red and grayelly valleys, which
afford the only farming lands. The county
| is well-timbered with sugar and yellow
| pine, fir, cedar, spruce, and much of the
wild plum. The lower foothills have chiefly
a growth of scrubby oaks.
ITS PLEASURE RESORTS.
Springs are numerous in all directions.
and good well water found at a depth of
from 10 to 80 feet. In the eastern half of
the county are several picturesque noun
tain lakes, chief among them being Web
| Der and Independence. These are delight
| full places of resort in the summer season,
and are visited by large numbers of tourists
and pleasure-seekers. Their waters are as
clear as crystal and filled with trout. Sum
mer hotels are maintained at these resorts
whose attractions are becoming widely
known.
The chief industry of the county has
been mining. Millions of dollars have
| DSCl Adhtn NUN lt1 MOUNTAINS
streams, and there are many mining fields
yet within her borders that are yielding,
and will continue to yield. golden treasures
| for years to come. As late as 1880
| THE ANNUAL GOLD PRODUCT OF THIS COUNTY
| Was more than million of dollars. 1t is
claimed by mining experts that the ancient
river channels. now covered by mountains
of lava, contain untold millions in gold
deposits, and will furnish lucrative employ
ment for the drift miners for years in the
future. There are scattered Throughout this
county, also. rich slate and marble and
iron and other valuable ores.
| The county seat is Downieville, which
was located as early as 1S49 At one time
it was the center, or distributing point, for
extensively worked and profitable gravel
mines. 1t is situated on both side Of the
| Yuba, and lies in deep canyon,
PIcTUREsoUELY ENCLOSED on ALL SIDES
| By mountains that tower above it to a
hight of fully 1000 feet. The population
is not nearly so large as in former years, at
present not numbering $50. 1t is reached
| by stage from Marysyille, on the Oregon
| branch of the Central Pacific Railroad,
distance of 81 miles, or from Nevada City,
the terminus Of the Nevada Central Rail-
road, distance of 40 miles. 1t boasts OF a
| bank good business houses, excellent
schools, churches and fraternal societies.
Sierra City, II miles east of Downieville.